It has emerged that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has carried out 60 reviews into deaths linked to benefit cuts in the past three years. Shocking cases reveal a spike in suicides and health deterioration resulting from cuts.

The information,
released by the Disability News Service (DNS), was obtained
through Freedom of Information requests. The data showed there
have been 60 investigations into the deaths of benefit claimants
since February 2012.

The DWP says the investigations are “peer reviews following
the death of a customer.”

The revelations follow a series of damning reports, including a
list compiled by the campaign group Black Triangle, of over 40
cases directly linking the deaths of claimants to the removal or
reduction of disability benefits.

In some cases, deaths appear to be caused by a refusal of
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Other deaths of
predominantly disabled claimants resulted from claimants being
found “fit to work” by a Work Capability Assessment
(WCA).

The DWP has consistently denied any connection between its
reforms to the welfare system and the deaths of benefit
claimants.

Friends of Scottish writer Paul Reekie publicly claim his suicide
in 2010 was the result of the government’s crackdown on welfare
payments.

The death of another person – referred to as 'Ms DE' – who
claimed ESA was reported by the DWS after her psychotherapist
said he could find no other reason for her suicide than the
impending removal of her benefits.

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland found that the
decision to revoke her out-of-work disability benefits was based
on assessments which contained “insufficient information
about her mental health.”

Dr. Donald Lyons, the commission’s chief executive, told
Disability News Service: “There was not anything else that we
could determine was happening in her life [that could have caused
her suicide].”

Ms DE was found dead in her home in 2011, only 13 days before her
ESA was due to be stopped.

The reportby Black Triangle further lists
cases in which people suffering debilitating conditions have died
after being proclaimed “fit to work.”

John McArdle, co-founder of Black Triangle, said the response to
these revelations has been disproportionate. He said if 60 people
had died in a major accident, there would have been “hell to
pay” and a “massive enquiry.”

Cuts to ESA and other benefits have attracted the attention of
high profile disability rights campaigners.

Jenny Sealey, co-director of the London 2012 Paralympics opening
ceremony, said she is “seriously in fear” for her job following
benefits reforms.